Back-to-school shopping is complicated by Alagille syndrome
My son's smaller stature makes it hard to find age-appropriate clothes
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With the end of summer nearly upon us here in the Pacific Northwest, we’re already feeling the shift in seasons. The new school year is right around the corner, and my two boys, Jackson and Finley, are getting excited for their first day. Finley, who has Alagille syndrome, will be facing a new challenge in kindergarten. My wife, Dani, and I have been working to outfit him with back-to-school clothes, but because Finley is much smaller than his peers, shopping always proves a bit difficult.
At 5, Finley weighs just over 32 pounds and is 41 inches tall. His doctors have been happy with his growth, but he has always followed his own unique curve, never charting on the official child growth chart. Even though he has always been smaller than his peers, and likely always will be, he has never let that slow him down. But his size can be a challenge when it comes to finding age-appropriate clothes.
Thankfully, this task has become much easier as Finley has aged. I will never forget how hard it was when he was learning to walk, and his feet were too small to fit into any shoes other than soft-soled ones. It was not fun to have a toddler walking in soft-soled shoes during the fall and winter, but it was our only option at the time. Fast-forward to today, and our shopping frustrations seem simple in comparison.
Finley loves the shark shirt he picked out this summer. (Photo by Jay Sandstrom)
Finley is growing, but he is stuck in no-man’s-land when it comes to sizing. He has not quite outgrown toddler clothes, but he is also ready for a more “grown-up” look. There are plenty of options out there, so maybe the challenge is more in my head than anything, but much of his clothing keeps him looking young. There is only so much we can do given his growth.
Even though I may stress about the details and available options, Finley still finds a bunch of cool things he loves. Currently, his favorite item in his closet is a “KPop Demon Hunters” shirt he picked out all on his own. He is also excited to go shoe shopping now that we’re only a week away from the first day of school.
On his first day, Finley will be dressed in some great new clothes, no matter what the size on the tag says. I will continue to let him grow on his own curve and get over my own anxieties about shopping. I know he isn’t thinking about those things. He is more focused on how he can wear his new favorite shirt every single day.
Note: Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Liver Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to liver disease.
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